Isle of the Captain's Oath | Seongjoong AU

𝟙𝟙

♥╣[-_-]╠♥

- ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫 - 

A Shift in The Tides

The faint creaking of wood and the rhythmic sway of the ship filled the captain's quarters, an almost hypnotic melody of the sea. The dim glow of a lantern swayed gently from the ceiling, casting shadows that danced across the cluttered room. Maps, books, and trinkets from countless voyages were strewn about, giving the space an air of chaotic nostalgia. A brass sextant gleamed from its perch on a shelf, catching the flickering light as if it, too, bore witness to the tension crackling in the room.

Seonghwa stood rigid near the desk, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked on Hongjoong. The captain moved with deliberate care, every step and gesture betraying the lingering pain of his injury. He rummaged through a drawer before finally withdrawing something small yet commanding: the hourglass-shaped cromer.

Hongjoong placed it on the desk with a deliberate clink, its intricate engravings glinting in the lantern light. He stared at it for a moment before his voice broke the heavy silence. "Do you know what this is?"

"Do you know what this is?" Hongjoong asked suddenly, placing the hourglass-like cromer on the desk with a deliberate clink. His fingers lingered on the smooth surface, tracing the intricate carvings as if the object itself held the key to something far greater than just its physical form.

Seonghwa's gaze flicked to the cromer, a flicker of recognition lighting up his features. "Yes, I seem to remember that you stole it from my own military headquarters," he replied, his voice cold, clipped.

Hongjoong's smirk deepened, his fingers brushing over the carvings, as if the touch itself would reveal some secret he was not yet privy to. "Then you know why I need it," he said, his voice low, steady, carrying the weight of a man who wasn't asking for permission. There was no hint of uncertainty in his tone, only the unwavering conviction of someone who had already made up his mind.

Seonghwa's jaw clenched, his posture stiffening further. Every instinct in him screamed to walk away, to leave the room and forget this entire conversation. But he couldn't. Not when Hongjoong was so close to unlocking a force that could change everything. "I'll never tell you how to use it," he said firmly, though his insides churned with the knowledge that Hongjoong would stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

Hongjoong's smirk faded, his eyes sharpening, the air between them growing heavier with each passing moment. Slowly, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he fixed Seonghwa with a piercing gaze. "You're making this harder than it has to be, sweetheart," he said, his voice now carrying a dangerous edge.

Seonghwa's stomach twisted at the term, but he refused to let it show. His expression remained stoic, even as the captain's words sliced through the tense air. "You think calling me that will change anything?" he retorted, his tone sharper than he intended. "You won't get what you want from me."

Hongjoong chuckled softly, though the sound lacked humor. There was no warmth in his amusement, just a coldness that sent a shiver down Seonghwa's spine. "You underestimate me, Seonghwa," he said, his voice lowering. "Or maybe you overestimate your position here." He straightened, his hand resting possessively on the cromer as if claiming ownership. "This isn't a game. If you know how to use it, you know what's at stake."

Seonghwa's eyes narrowed, his chest tightening. "Of course, I know," he snapped, his composure cracking slightly. He stepped closer to the desk, his voice dropping into a low, fierce whisper. "That thing—" he jabbed a finger toward the cromer, "—isn't just some toy. It's destruction waiting to happen in the wrong hands. And let's be honest, Hongjoong, your hands are hardly clean."